A LONE female police officer was attacked and had her nose broken by a drunken mob.

The sergeant was hit on the back of the head and knocked to the floor in a Chester pub earlier today (Tuesday, April 30).

She was then kicked in the face as she tried to call for back-up to break up the party of more than 60 people.

Police branded the attack "vicious and unprovoked."

It happened in the Bull and Stirrup pub on the city's Upper Northgate Street. Police were investigating complaints about noise shortly before 3am.

The function room was packed with revellers who attacked the sergeant as she attempted to close the party.

Four people from the Chester area, including a 45-year-old woman and two men in their twenties, were arrested and are due to be questioned by police.

A fourth man has so far refused to give any details to officers.

The sergeant was taken to Countess of Chester Hospital for treatment for facial injuries and is now recovering at home.

Supt Nick Ingram, divisional commander for Chester, said: "We are still piecing together what exactly happened but this appears to be an unprovoked attack on an officer going about her duty and responding to a call from the public.

"It was a vicious assault which has left the sergeant with a suspected broken nose and currently booked off work sick."

The sergeant was alone at the scene. A police spokesman said this was standard procedure for responding to a routine public disorder call.

The spokesman added: "Clearly this escalated beyond control and other officers had to be called in from Chester and Ellesmere Port.

"The sergeant, who has asked not to have any details revealed at this stage, has been assigned a family liaison officer and will make a full statement later today.